Beneath Herne Hill railway station is this family-run butcher and larder which sells excellent cuts of all meat (including rare breeds), freshly baked bread and artisan products. There's another branch in Earlsfield.

Little Eritrea in the heart of London. Perched a hop and a skip from Oval tube, the glass façade gives way to a traditional interior with ornaments, maps and artefacts. The food is a treat… meat and curries are served within a spongy pancake, which doubles as your crockery. Obscure and delicious. 

Another Thames-side pub that vies for the title of being the oldest on the river. The point is still identifiable nearby where the Mayflower was moored in 1620, before it sailed on to the south coast and eventually America. The charming interior is adorned with church pews. A great spot for a pint.

This is a book to return to. Kate Mosse, the writer, revealed in the ‘Times’ that she has read it every decade of her life, and it has been a different book each time round. She describes it as ‘a novel about landscape, race, the woman’s place in the world, and the amorality of nature’.

Jack Lewis, a neuroscientist, explains how the brain’s chemistry encourages bad behaviours. He explores how the seven deadly sins take form in the architecture and chemistry of the brain – and he gives science-backed suggestions for resisting temptations, be that cake or social media.

A beautiful underground heritage site that dates back almost 150 years but has been closed to passengers since 1954. You can visit the spot for yourself on Heritage Open Days and duringan open house which is held annually in September.

The Grade II-listed pub at 145 Fleet Street was renowned as a journalists’ watering hole. Rebuilt shortly after the Great Fire of 1666, it is also known for its literary associations, with patrons having included Charles Dickens, GK Chesterton and Mark Twain.

Originally known as Wentworth Place, this crisp white Regency villa was home to the poet for the most productive years of his career. The poet’s outstanding legacy is kept alive through workshops, exhibitions and an evolving programme that warrants your attention.

Don’t be deterred by the slightly damp aroma… from 7pm on Mondays this dingy dive transforms into a jazz den… with flute riffs coupled with bluesy vocals. It is well worth dropping in for an ale and a boogie at this low-key gem.

Since the doors first opened in 1887, coffee and tea have dominated the shop’s atmosphere. Today, the Algerian Coffee Stores has evolved into one of the world’s best-known and leading suppliers of coffee and tea. Offering a choice of more than 80 coffees and 120 teas from around the world.

The garden’s remarkable microclimate and location have allowed the growing of plants not frequently found outside in the UK – including our largest fruiting olive tree. In 1976 the head gardener collected a record crop of 7lb of ripe olives, which is a London crop record.

A great place to visit to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. There are beautiful gardens and wide open spaces in which to have a picnic – or visit one of the two cafes offering good food.

The Anglesea Arms is on Selwood Terrace, where Charles Dickens once lived. The site was originally a market garden and nursery dating back to 1712. A beautiful,traditional pub that feels older than it looks, with a deserved reputation for excellent food and drink.

Lindisfarne Castle is a 16th-century castle much altered by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1901. The island is accessible from the mainland at low tide by means of a causeway. It’sbeen a shooting location for a number of films including Roman Polanski’s film ‘Cul-de-Sac’ (1966).

Hotel de Crillon is a magnificent luxury hotel, situated in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Combining a mixture of modern and 18th-century, it is quite beautiful. But though it has a history, Mary Kenny remembers it as a good place for a glass of something or other... 

This open-air gallery in West Bretton, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, shows work by British and international artists, including Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.Sculptures are set amid rolling greenery and change with the seasons.

Dimbola was the home of the celebrated Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. It is now a museum and gallery dedicated to her life and work, and also showcases contemporary exhibitions from photographers around the globe.

A 1989 American existential comedy-drama written and directed by Woody Alllen, with a cast that includes Mia Farrow and Anjelica Huston. The film has been described as ‘a civilised comedy with iron in its soul’.

Fearne Cotton manages to lure in the likes of Stephen Fry, Matt Haig and Alexandra Shulman for rambling, unadulterated, glittering conversations. Perhaps the best is Kirsty Young. Finally, the great interviewer is cast in the opposite role.

These are vegetarian recipes to convert even the most devoted of meat-eaters. What’s not to like about aubergine kebabs, spicy pancakes and sweet potato pie?

Written with her daughter, Virginia Lewis-Jones, Vera Lynn’s account of the time she spent with soldiers in war-torn Burma is life-affirming. Based on her personal diary and unpublished letters from soldiers to their families, it shows how her singing gave a boost to the struggling troops.

Oldie columnist Mary Kenny recently published a brilliant series of essays, covering everything from gender theory to grandmothers, manspreading to menopause. She was a founder of the Irish Women’s Liberation Movement in 1970, but she is certainly not your average feminist

The Crab House promises a day out to remember in Dorset, serving crab caught nearby in the English Channel. With a resident oyster farmer, this is the place to go for seafood on the Dorset coast. ‘Café’ does not do it justice; this is the seafood shack that dreams are made of.

The sequel to the 2015 hit Kingsman: The Secret Service is equally as funny, and equally ridiculous. Colin Firth and Co return, this time on a mission to Colombia, where a supervillain hiding in the jungle has, among other crimes, kidnapped Elton John – who, it should be added, does appear.

As Janet has just been promoted to a ministerial position in the shadow cabinet, it is time to celebrate. At the party, with a few close friends present, her husband, Bill, is responsible for some bewildering revelations that take everyone by surprise. A comedy of tragic proportions.